Fire hose nozzle



March 26, 1963 H. A. SWAN 3,082,960

FIRE HOSE NOZZLE Filed Dec. 27, 1960 INVENTOR. HAROLD A. SWAN 48 F1 g. 4BY mama United States Patent 3,082,960 FIRE HOSE NOZZLE Harold A. Swan,858 G Ave., Coronado, Calif. Filed Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,450Claims. (Cl. 239383) nozzle to break up the stream into large droplets,which are very effective in wetting down a larger area than a solidstream and with less tendency to evaporate than a fine mist.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fire hose nozzleconstructed to ensure a smooth flow of water and prevent back leakage orundesirable water circulation in the nozzle.

Finally, it is an object to provide a fire hose nozzle of theaforementioned character which is simple and convenient to manufactureand use and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawingwhich forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the complete nozzle;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation view thereof; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the views ofthe drawing.

The nozzle is composed of only four parts, a barrel 10, a cap 12, arotor 14 and a bearing collar 16, the rotor being the only movableportion. The barrel 10 is of cylindrical form and has a tapered bore 18converging in the direction of flow, the forward end face of said barrelhaving an undercut annular channel 20 leaving a thin, forwardlyprotruding rim 22 concentric with said bore. The forward end of thebarrel 10 has an externally threaded portion 24 on which the internallythreaded rear end 26 of the cap 12 is fitted. Inside the cap 12 is acounterbore 28 in which the bearing collar 16 is a press fit, thebearing collar being held tight against the end of the threaded portion24 when said cap is secured in place.

The rotor 14 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 30 which is a free rotatingfit inside the bearing collar 16, the sleeve containing a plurality ofgenerally radial vanes 32 angularly disposed from front to rear, so thatthe water flow spins the rotor. The rear edges 34 of the vanes 32 areinset, allowing the rotor 14 to seat concentrically on the protrudingrim 22, the rear end of the sleeve 30 having a radially outwardlyextending thrust flange 36 which rides in the annular channel 20. Thebearing collar 16 has a fiat rear face 38, against which the thrustflange 36 bears, to retain the rotor 14 against the water pressure. Tominimize friction, the bearing collar 16 is preferably made from aplastic material such as nylon or Teflon (trade name), although certainmetals may also be suitable.

The cap 12 has a tapered outlet 40 diverging from a mouth 42 forwardlyof the bearing collar 16, the forward end of the rotor sleeve 30'projecting slightly forwardly of said mouth to prevent leakage of waterback into the nozzle. In the outlet 40 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced vents 44 communicating with the exterior of the cap12, said vents being substantially perpendicular to the diverging Wallof said outlet at their inner ends. As a stream of water is ejected fromthe nozzle, a flow of ambient air is induced through the vents 44 intothe outlet 40 and forms a boundary layer between the water and the wallof the outlet. This reduces friction and prevents turbulence in thestream due to breaking over the end of the outlet, so increasing theeffective range of the water stream.

In extinguishing a fire it is necessary to cool the burning materialover as large an area as possible to stop combustion. A jet of water, asfrom a conventional nozzle, covers a very limited area, while a fog ormist may be evaporated by an intense fire before reaching the combustionzone. The nozzle described herein pro vides a divergent stream of largewater droplets which have sufficient body to carry to the base of afire. If addi'tional breaking up of the water stream is required, theforward edges of the vanes 32 may be notched as indicated at 46.

Since the rim 22 extends into the rotor sleeve 30 and the sleeve itselfprojects into the divergent outlet 40, leakage of water back into thenozzle is prevented and efficiency is increased by the induced air ilowthrough the vents 44 to prevent direct contact of the water on the wallof the outlet. Thus the stream of droplets can be projectedsubstantially as far as a narrow jet of water.

To facilitate its use with conventional fire hose connections, thebarrel 10 is provided with the usual locking lugs 48, which fit the wellknown twist lock connection and a knurled band 50 is formed on saidbarrel for ease of handling.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in con nection with the drawing and the above recitedobjects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved bythis invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A fire hose nozzle comprising: a cylindrical barrel having a waterconducting bore; a cap removably attached to the forward end of saidbarrel; said cap having a divergent outlet; a bearing collar in said capconcentric with and surrounding said bore; means, comprising a vanedrotor freely rotatably mounted in said bearing collar for converting astream of water passing through said bore into large drops of water; andmeans, comprising a plurality of vents in said outlet communicating withthe exterior of said cap for admitting air between the wall of saidoutlet and the flow of water and reducing the friction between said walland said water.

2. A fire hose nozzle comprising: a cylindrical barrel having a waterconducting bore, a cap removably attached to the forward end of saidbarrel; said cap having a divergent outlet; a bearing collar in said capconcentric with and surrounding said bore; a rotor having a sleeveportion freely rotatable in said bearing collar; a plurality of vanes insaid sleeve portion; the rear end of said sleeve portion having aradially extending thrust flange engaging the rear face of said bearingcollar; and a plurality of vents in said outlet communicating with theexterior 3 of said cap to produce a film of air between the wall of saidoutlet and the stream of water.

3. A fire hose nozzle comprising: a cylindrical barrel having a waterconducting bore; a cap removably attached to the forward end of saidbarrel; said cap having a divergent outlet; a bearing collar in said capconcentric with and encircling said bore; a rotor having a sleeveportion freely rotatable in said bearing collar; a plurality of vanes insaid sleeve portion; the rear end of said sleeve portion having aradially extending thrust flange engaging the rear face of said bearingcollar; the rear edges of said vanes being inset into said sleeveportion, said barrel having a rim at the forward end of said bore; saidrim extending into said sleeve portion; and means, comprising aplurality of vents in said outlet communicating with the exterior ofsaid cap, for producing a frictionreducing film of air between the wallof said outlet and the flow of water.

, 4. A fire hose nozzle comprising: a cylindrical .barrel having a waterconducting bore; a cap removably attached to the forward end of saidbarrel; said cap having a divergent outlet; a bearing collar having acylindrical inner surface positioned in said cap concentric with saidbore; a rotor having a cylindrical sleeve portion freely rotatable inthe cylindrical portion of said bearing collar; a plurality of vanespositioned in said sleeve portion; the rear end of said sleeve portionhaving a radially extending thrust flange engaging the rear face of saidbearing collar; the rear edges of said vanes being inset into saidsleeve portion, said'barrel having a rim at the forward end of saidbore; said rim extending into said sleeve portion; the forward end ofsaid sleeve portion projecting into said outlet; and means comprising aplurality of vents in said outlet communicating at an angle with theexterior of said cap to admit air between the wall of said outlet andthe flow of water.

5. A fire hose nozzle according to claim 4 and wherein the forward edgesof said vanes are notched.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS666,297 Winkle Jan. 22, 1901 730,927 Koegler June 16, 1903 1,205,563Pepper Nov. 21, 1916 1,840,686 Zechmanek Jan. 12, 1932 2,053,403McCormick Sept. 8, 1936 2,120,620 Mowery June 14, 1938 2,562,096Herrmann July 24, 1951 2,624,559 Hyde Jan. 6, 1953 2,657,024 ReineckeOctv 27, 1953 2,767,024 Swan Oct. 16, 1956 2,905,394 Swan Sept. 22, 19592,941,729 Goodrie June 21, 1960

1. A FIRE HOSE NOZZLE COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL BARREL HAVING A WATERCONDUCTING BORE; A CAP REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD END OF SAIDBARREL; SAID CAP HAVING A DIVERGENT OUTLET; A BEARING COLLAR IN SAID CAPCONCENTRIC WITH AND SURROUNDING SAID BORE; MEANS, COMPRISING A VANEDROTOR FREELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING COLLAR FOR CONVERTING ASTREAM OF WATER PASSING THROUGH SAID BORE INTO LARGE DROPS OF WATER; ANDMEANS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VENTS IN SAID OUTLET COMMUNICATING WITHTHE EXTERIOR OF SAID CAP FOR ADMITTING AIR BETWEEN THE WALL OF SAIDOUTLET AND THE FLOW OF WATER AND REDUCING THE FRICTION BETWEEN SAID WALLAND SAID WATER.